Do it or DUmp it??

It's a sad day here in Minnesota.

I was working on the motor on my Hydrodyne 18 project yesterday when I noticed a serious soft spot under the rear deck. It had been hidden by the battery until I started taking things apart, and what I saw was pretty sad, and did not bode well for the project. Cracked fiberglass and mushy wood underneath. Time to take a real close look at everything else.

I had carefully sounded the hull and transom before I bought the boat, and I was pretty sure that everything was sound. The floor felt solid and even when we took the carpet up, it looked pretty sound. But after the soft spot, I decided that I'd better take up the plywood floor and have a look. Disaster.

Someone had been there before me, and had sandwiched the stringers with a couple 1X4 board to mount the plywood floor on. The stringers are mush. See the attached photo.

So now I have to decide whether to just junk the thing or go all the way and rebuild it. The funny thing is that the transom and motor mounts (it's an inboard) seem strong. But I expect I'll have to seperate the deck and hull and start from scratch. Damn. Didn't need another full blown project. Any thoughts on this?

Jim

 

You do not and should not separate the deck when doing floor and stringers. The deck will hold the boat shape while it is apart. The situation you found is typical.

My boat is an I/O that I converted to an outboard. Everything about the boat got better. I took out a 198hp V-8 and replaced it with a 150hp outboard. There was a marked improvement in performance and handling. This would be the time to consider that mod.

I say go for it.

jim

 

Thanks for the reply. Did you have to do the stringers on your boat? Doesn't look like much fun.

As for converting to an outboard, no thanks. I have worked on outboards all my life, and you could say I don't much care for them. My purpose in buying this boat was to never have to deal with an outblard motor again. However, it appears that I have jumped out of the frying pan and in to the fire.

At this point I'm thinking land fill. I have enough projects, and this one just isn't going to make the cut. Anyone want the thing before I toss it?

Jim

 

Is it on a roadworthy trailer? And do you have a picture of the boat? Where in MN are you?

I stripped the floor and stringers out and had them done because of the conversion.

jim

 

Jim:
The stringers are no problem if he bottom is strong. the stringers were to hold the floor and played no structual part of the hull, the hull would perform good with or without the stringers. Use a die grinder with a diamond bit if possible, I used a 2.5" flat wheel diamond coated. You can use a grinder also but be careful with either. Use the old stringer as templets, same as floor boards. Tab in the new stringes and bed with water proof bondo. Cover the stringer with bi-axel glass +- 45, used the one with the 1.5 oz mat stiched to it. over lap a min. of 6" each side of stringer. You can give me a call for more info if you would like, e-mail me at acrosby8@comcast.net an I will give you my numbers. this go for anyone who has construction or repair problems.
Ab

 

Thanks guys. Appreciate the hand holding. I hate to be a wimp, but I think I'm going to bail on this one. I've attached a couple more photos if anyone is interested in this pile.

The motor is out of the boat. It did turn over fine, and the previous owner said it ran, but the compression was all over the board, so I decided to take it out and do a long block. I'm sure it's rebuildable, if someone would prefer.

My son has removed all the hardware from the boat, stripped the deck and glassed the holes getting ready for paint. He's also worked on the motor cowl. The parts are pretty much all there.

The trailer is crude but works really well. New tires and spare. I hauled it up from Texas last fall and it pulled very nice. I'm located in Alexandria, MN.

Let me know if anyone's interested.

Thanks again!

Jim

 

I am going to take a pass on this one. It is too far away from me. You guys in the midwest should consider this boat. It would make a great outboard. I think I would make the whole rear deck flush with no motorwell and mount the motor on a setback bracket. That would make it look very modern and be one of a kind. It would also leave a large storage area under the rear deck.

Another option would be a minumum motorwell like mine.

Then use a custom made 200 or 150 Merc that weighs in at about 360 pounds.

jim

 

this might be an interesting project to undertake.
i am seriously considering it!
cant stand to see a dyne go to the dump!
i dont live very far away i could pic up!
depends on the price

 

Jeez, you guys are making me feel guilty! OK, I won't send it to the dump!! (I was just kidding about that anyway. I'd NEVER destroy a classic!!)

I did find a fellow not too far away from me that thinks he can do the floor for between $1,100 and $3000, and that sounds like an option. He's in the business of restoring and repairing old glass boats, so I'm sure he'd do a far better job than I could. I'm going to have him look at the transom and engine mounts too, because if those are bad, it could get real expensive to bring this old girl back to life.

Anyhoo, thanks for the support and replies. If I do decide to get rid of it, I'll post it here first.

Jim

 

Jim,

There are some pieces added toward the front of the floor that do not belong there. The floor in that boat should end at the front cross member where the stringers end. The area ahead of that serves as a foot well. Your feet actually rest on the bottom of the boat and the seat sits on the floor. The floor and stringer replacement is not that difficult and if you are comfortable with glass work, I think you should consider it. You will get exactly what you want that way. A floor and stringer job down here is $1500 and I think that is high.

Take a look at the restoration section off the main page of this forum to get an idea of what the floor should look like. I can take pictures of mine too if you like.

The transom on an I/O is well sealed and it is probably ok. It should be checked however. re seal all fasteners that go into the transom. The motor mounts are very simple, but should also be ok.

When you go back together with it please contact me. There is a fairly simple mod that I did to my outdrive that makes it steer much better.

jim